But with forecasts calling for temperatures at FedEx Field to dip into the 20s, the focus could shift quickly from the Cowboys' Tony Romo and Redskins' Robert Griffin III to running backs DeMarco Murray of Dallas and Alfred Morris for Washington.

Griffin was the catalyst for Washington's 38-31 victory over Dallas on Thanksgiving, completing 71.4 percent of his passes for 311 yards and four touchdowns in one of the Rookie of the Year candidate's top performances.

Under-the-radar rookie

But Morris, another rookie, did plenty of heavy lifting with a rugged 24-carry, 113-yard, one-touchdown showing.

Indeed, Morris is fourth in the league with 1,413 yards on 302 attempts, a major reason Washington leads the league in rush offense with a 162.3 yards per game. His big game against Dallas was the first of three 100-yard games in a row during a six-game winning streak that propelled the Redskins (9-6) from cellar dwellers to division leaders.

Prime opportunity

Another big game could be in store for Morris, considering he's going up against an injury-depleted defense that ranks 17th against the run (115.3 yards per game) and will be without five of its best run stoppers.

"RGIII is the phenom that everybody loves, but this running back has been killing people and may be the most dangerous guy on the field," Spears said. "That's not to take anything away from RGIII.

"But when you look at the film, (Morris) is averaging almost 120 yards rushing per game. Usually when teams do that, they win. So we got a lot on our hands."

A sixth-round pick from Florida Atlantic, Morris is the latest late-round or undrafted gem at running back to be unearthed by Redskins coach Mike Shanahan.

"Not too many rookies can handle the load he has," Shanahan said. "But he's a special guy, a very humble, hard worker."

A welcome return

The Cowboys (8-7) were without Murray in the first meeting with the Redskins and gained only 35 yards on 11 attempts.

In his four games since returning from a foot injury that sidelined him for six contests, the second-year pro from Oklahoma rushed for 80-plus yards twice and has run for a touchdown in three of those outings.

"The game kind of dictated them not being able to run the football as much on Thanksgiving," said Washington linebacker London Fletcher, noting the Redskins led 28-3 at halftime. "With Murray, he's a big back, breaks tackles, runs hard. Obviously, having him in the fold makes their run game better."

In need of turnaround

Still, Murray managed only 40 yards on 11 carries and failed to score a touchdown in last week's 34-31 overtime loss to New Orleans, a contest in which the Saints controlled possession for almost 65 percent of the game.

The Cowboys are 31st in rushing offense, averaging just 77.7 yards per game.

The Redskins are fifth in rushing defense, yielding just 95.5 yards per contest.

"They are a very good run defense and have been for a number of years," Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said while heaping praise on Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett.